Diets rich in omega-3 or -6 fatty acids will produce different profiles for cell membranes phospholipid constitutions. Omegas 3 and 6 are part of the diet and can modulate the inflammatory profile. We evaluated the effects of the oral absorption of fish oil, when associated with a lipid nanoemulsion in an experimental pulmonary inflammatory model. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease associated with excessive extracellular matrix deposition. We determined to investigate the morphophysiological mechanisms in mice that were pretreated after induction with bleomycin (BLM). The pretreatment was for 21 days with saline solution, sunflower oil (SO), fish oil (FO), and fish oil nanoemulsion (NEW3). The animals received a daily dose of 50 mg/Kg of docosahexaenoic acid DHA and 10 mg/Kg eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (100 mg/Kg), represented by a daily dose of 40 µL of NEW3. The blank group was treated with the same amount daily (40 µL) during the 21 days of pretreatment. The animals were treated with SO and FO, 100 mg/Kg (containing 58 mg/Kg of polyunsaturated fats/higher% linoleic acid) and 100 mg/Kg (50 mg/Kg of DHA and 10 mg/Kg EPA), respectively. A single dose of 5 mg/mL (50 μL) bleomycin sulfate, by the intratracheal surgical method in BALB/cAnNTac (BALB/c). NEW3 significantly reduced fibrotic progression, which can be evidenced by the protection from loss of body mass, increase in respiratory incursions per minute, decreased spacing of alveolar septa, decreased severity of fibrosis, and changes in the respiratory system. NEW3 attenuated the inflammatory changes developed in the experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis, while group SO showed a significant increase in inflammatory changes. This concluded that the presented results demonstrated that is possible to positively modulate the immune and inflamamtory response to an external agressor, by changing the nutitional intake of specific fatty acids, such as omega-3 placed in fish oil. Moreover, these benefits can be improved by the nanoencapsulation of fish oil in lipid nanoemulsions.

Background/Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by the interplay between immune responses and dysbiosis in disease development. Aiming to provide additional insights into disease development and potential treatment strategies, the present study investigates the local effect of oral treatment with polysaccharides obtained from Auricularia auricula’s submerged culture in an experimental model of DSS-induced colitis and its impact on lesion resolution. Methods: The structure and monosaccharide composition of Auricularia polysaccharides were characterized through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). To evaluate the effect of this polysaccharide on the murine model, wild-type and Dectin-1 knockout mice were treated or not with the exopolysaccharide (EPS) while under DSS consumption. During the experimental period, feces samples were collected to evaluate microbial shifts during disease development, and, finally, the colonic tissue was analyzed to assess the inflammatory process and cytokine production. Results: The EPS composition showed a polymeric mixture of glucans and fucogalactomannans. The treatment of the wild-type DSS-induced colitis group improved the inflammatory response by increasing gut–homeostatic cytokines, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The Dectin-1 KO mice group did not show the same enhancement after EPS treatment. The microbiome analysis revealed a difference in the genotype, and the treatment modified the DSS microbiome modulation, with nine and four ASVs in WT and Dectin-1 KO mice, respectively. Conclusions: The EPS treatment demonstrated therapeutic potential in treating inflammatory intestinal diseases by modulating cytokine secretion and microbiota composition, which is dependent on the Dectin-1 receptor’s carbohydrate recognition.

Background: The consumption of nutraceuticals or food supplements has increased crucially, aiming to address nutrient deficits and enhance immune system function. To develop safe food products with unique nutritional and functional benefits, new production methods of these nutraceuticals such as the fermentative process have been gaining prominence for industrial applications. Bionutri-AR1^® is a nutraceutical produced via this bioprocess, featuring a complex composition, that has been used to improve the immune systems of debilitated people. Objectives: Considering the various biological properties attributed to glucans, one of its main components, this study aims to structurally characterize and evaluate, in vitro, the antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential of the polymers from this nutraceutical to assess whether these polymers contribute to the product’s reported biological effects. Methods/Results: Unlike previous reports, this study characterized by NMR, GC-MS, and Congo Red assay techniques two main glucans: a water-insoluble linear α-D-glucan with glycosidic bonds (1→4) and a soluble branched (1→3)- and (1→6)-linked β-glucan with a triple helix. Both glucans showed significant antioxidant activity, measured by their capacity to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. They were also capable of inducing the secretion of cytokines such as tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), determined through capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), especially when co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusions: This suggests a dual action of these glucans in both proinflammatory and regulatory pathways. Future studies will describe the mechanisms by which these glucans, especially the insoluble ones, enhance immune system function, highlighting their potential use in immunotherapy.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, relentless, and deadly disease. Little is known about its pathogenetic mechanisms; therefore, developing efficient pharmacological therapies is challenging. This work aimed to apply a therapeutic alternative using immunomodulatory peptides in a chronic pulmonary fibrosis murine model. BALB/c mice were intratracheally instilled with bleomycin (BLM) and followed for 30 days. The mice were treated with the immune modulatory peptides ToAP3 and ToAP4 every three days, starting on the 5th day post-BLM instillation. ELISA, qPCR, morphology, and respiratory function analyses were performed. The treatment with both peptides delayed the inflammatory process observed in the non-treated group, which showed a fibrotic process with alterations in the production of collagen I, III, and IV that were associated with significant alterations in their ventilatory mechanics. The ToAP3 and ToAP4 treatments, by lung gene modulation patterns, indicated that distinct mechanisms determine the action of peptides. Both peptides controlled the experimental IPF, maintaining the tissue characteristics and standard function properties and regulating fibrotic-associated cytokine production. Data obtained in this work show that the immune response regulation by ToAP3 and ToAP4 can control the alterations that cause the fibrotic process after BLM instillation, making both peptides potential therapeutic alternatives and/or adjuvants for IPF.

D-limonene is a bioactive monoterpene with recognized antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, whose therapeutic application is severely constrained by its high volatility, sensitivity to oxidation, and poor aqueous solubility. Nanoencapsulation within biopolymeric matrices represents a promising strategy to overcome these limitations. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and characterize chemically modified avocado seed ( Persea americana Miller) starch nanoparticles, produced via a simple one-step nanoprecipitation method, for D-limonene encapsulation, evaluating their physicochemical properties, long-term stability, and immunomodulatory potential. Acetylation of the starch was confirmed by FTIR, ¹³C NMR, and degree of substitution (DS) determination, which collectively demonstrated successful introduction of acetyl groups into the polymer backbone and the resulting increase in hydrophobicity that underlies the encapsulation capacity of the nanocarrier. Thermogravimetric analysis further characterized the physicochemical properties of the modified starch and nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticles displayed mean diameters lower than 350 nm, predominantly homogeneous size distributions (PdI < 0.3), zeta potentials ranging from − 10.46 to − 13.77 mV and encapsulation efficiency higher than 80% in two formulations. Long-term stability assessment demonstrated preservation of colloidal integrity after 10 months under refrigerated storage, with retention of approximately 69% of initial encapsulation efficiency. TEM analysis revealed small, globular particles with smooth surfaces and narrow size distribution, while FT-IR spectroscopy provided surface chemistry characterization consistent with limonene confinement within the nanoparticle core. In vitro release studies demonstrated a sustained, gradual release profile, with 59.1% of the encapsulated DL released after 24 h and release kinetics best described by a first-order model, with Fickian diffusion as the dominant transport mechanism. Immunological analysis demonstrated a potent and context-dependent immunomodulatory potential of ASNP-DL1. In vitro assays showed the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in macrophages and dendritic cells, concurrently maintaining anti-inflammatory IL-10 at basal levels, indicating a coordinated shift toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. These findings underscore the potential of this sustainable nanocarrier as a versatile platform that effectively addresses the physicochemical limitations of D-limonene, positioning this sustainable, agriculturally-derived nanocarrier as a promising candidate for immunomodulatory therapies with broad pharmaceutical and biotechnological relevance.

Sepsis is a life‐threatening condition characterized by severe organ dysfunction resulting from an uncontrolled host response to infection. Sepsis treatment poses a challenge due to its complexity and the need for effective therapeutic approaches. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Auricularia auricula in a murine model of lethal sepsis. Our findings demonstrated that treatment with EPS significantly enhances the proliferation of circulating lymphocytes and granulocytes, which is associated with improved host defense mechanisms. Additionally, EPS administration effectively mitigates sepsis‐induced pulmonary damage, as evidenced by preserved lung function. Furthermore, EPS treatment significantly reduces microbial translocation to the bloodstream, maintaining a lower colony‐forming unit (CFU) count and thereby restricting systemic infection. The polysaccharides also prevent the development of thrombocytopenia in septic animals, thereby preserving platelet homeostasis. The compound modulates serum cytokine profiles, contributing to a more regulated inflammatory response. The interactome analysis reveals that the Dectin‐1 → Syk pathway activates NF‐κB/AP‐1 and involves p38 MAPK, thereby explaining the observed cytokine modulation. The presence of Nod2/Ripk2 suggests that the EPS primes leukocytes to effectively combat both fungi and bacteria, leading to a reduced bacterial load and increased survival. Collectively, these data indicate that EPS, a prebiotic agent, represents a novel therapeutic strategy with potential for modulating immune responses, controlling microbial proliferation, and improving survival outcomes in a model of severe sepsis.